Window-washer platform



June 12, 1923.

J. C. BREWSTER WINDOW WASHER PLATFORM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 8, 1922 g nuen f 01;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. c. BREWSTER WINDOW WA S HER PLATFORM Filed March 8. 1922 Patented June 12, 1923.

ssignsc;eenwsrnn;prroarivmnrson;rownfj WINDOWeWAfSHER' PLATFORM. v

Application-filed March 1'm.r iseaaMama; i

Be? it; known that ;I, JAMES a citizen of the United Statesfresiding iat Fort Madison,- in the county of Leeyand State of lowa, have invented certain new and --1 1seful lmprovernents in EndowlVasher Platforms; and l hereby-declare that the following is a fulhiclear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had vto the, accompanying drawings, 1 which form part of-this specification;v 1 I This invention is ainovel portable apparatus especially designed for use by'window washers, to enable them to sa'felyand comfortably washwindows from theoutside.

The-invention consists of a novelportahle' 1 frame! or cageadaptedto be placedroutsidef of a window and provided withimeans o'per ablefor throwing the pressure or weight when-in use downward upon the windowsill and preventingthe weightprying the apparatus outward againstthe'edge of the sill.

T he apparatus is provided with novel means for securely supporting and suspending it on and fromv the lower-sill of the window frame,

the supporting devices being readilyadjustableto suit different thicknesses of walls, and various widths and sizes of window sills.

I'- willexplain the' invention' with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical form of apparatus embodying: the same,- and in'uthe claiinsare summarized the essentials-of" the invention,

the novelfeatu-res ofconstruction and novel Combinations of Parts? f which "Protection .is-desired; V i

=" In'the drawings:

Fig. l isa perspective view of'the apparatus as applied to -a' window imposition for .usethe part of the window being indicated f n dotted: li i. E

i 2 is aside view'ofsuchapparatus.

' Fig. 3 is a perspective view 'of a slight modification of the apparatus -as appliedto a*window, in position for use. ig.'- l is-f'a side-view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 applied'to a window.

Sis atop plan view 'ofFig; 4; 2-Figq6 is a section on' the line 66,"Fig. 4.

.i P Theeapparatus includes a frame or cage in which the "operator can. stand, and i which E Figf7 is'a sectionon theiline7-7', F ig; 4.

maybe of any'suitalole construction. -As

shown, it comprises: abottomor platform "and endsy-and one side.' In the particular example shownthe bottom lis supported on J- As shown; to the lower ends of the outer,

bars 1 are connected brace b'ars2, whichiextend inwardlyeands upwardly and are connected tothebars 1?, adjacentthe upper end of the latter, by anymsuitahlemeans,:prefer- :ablY by bol't's2 U y H As shown, hook bars SarepreferahIycoii nectedto bars 1near thefupper'ends, and '3 are adapted to projectacross the window sill, the inner ends of bars 3 beingbent downwardly forming hooks 3 which engage the inner edge of 'lil'lQiWlIldOWfItlHlG, as shown Preferably as shown of whichfdepend below the connections of the hook' bars 3 to the uprights l 'fandare'.

adapted to rest upon the topfofthe outer portion S of the window] sill as shown" in Figs. 1 and 2and'support the weight'ofthe in Figs. 1 and 2Ithe lower portionsof the bars 1 project beyo'n d 'the:uprightsll andare curved downwardly forminghooks or hangers 1 the lower ends r frame thereupon. As shown inFigsu3ftoj5 "r brace bars 2*are extended beyond the thumb bolts 2 and' 'are curved downwardly-to;f0rm

instead of having the top bars l ex tended to form the hooks 15, the upperenjd'sfof the b k p jec i g vbey nd he pr ghts, 1

and the 'ends'offth'ese hooks- Q are adapted to "-rest'upon' the topj'of 'thefouter' ortion Ste thewindow sillasindicated in igs 3'Qand 4 i and suspend the apparatus thereupon;

' The whole frame or cage is, made of metal and the p'art'ssecurely riveted" orholted to.-

gether'; but" as -stated the-"frame, {may he of 'any'desired'construction. Y '=Preferably the hook liars 3 a two sections, the hook section3 being hinged .:as at- 3? to the outer perforated section 3",

in .any suitable manner. Thi's' enahles f the 'hook bars '3'=-to be adjusted over any raised POIUOHS- on the-window sill such as weather e made in.

stripping; or Other 'parts which inight loe formed-on or attached to-the sill-o'f "the window" frame. These hinged joints permit the hooks31to be readily depressed sons 'to engage the :inner edgeof the sill without "disengaging thenhooks "2? from the si-ll S,

which hooks 2 normally support the frame in operative position upon the window sill as shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

Preferably the outer sections 3 are connected to the uprights 1 by the same bolts 2 that connect the brace bars 2 thereto; but if desired the connections might be independent. Preferably, also the sections 3 are adjustably connected to the uprights 1 so that the hook bars 3 can'be adjusted to suit the width of the window sill. A convenient mode of adjustment is to provide the-outer sections 3 with holes 3 any one of which may be engaged with the-bolt 2; so

that when thehooks 3 are engaged with the inner edge of the window frame Slll, the uprights 1 will be held closely against the outer edge of the window sill S, as in Figs. 1 1. I

Preferably attached to the lower end of the uprights 1 and sidebars 1, are inwardlyprojecting bars 4-,which are preferably made adjustable. The inner ends of these bars a are adapted tocontact with the wall of the building below the sill S as shown and will prevent the bars 1 fulcruming or rocking on the outer edge of the sill S, and obviates any tendency of the frame, or weight of the operator standing on the platform 1, to pull the points of the hooks 2 outward. The bars 4 may be made adjustable in any suitable way. As shown, each bar 1 has perforations which are engaged by a bolt 4 transfixing an opening in the ad- .jacent upright 1; but they may be made otherwise adjustable, in any desired man ner. Preferably the outer end of each bar 4 is bifurcated as at 4', and straddles the up per edge of the bar 1 and prevents the bar 1 twisting laterally on the bolt 1.

In using the device, the frame or cage is place'd outside the window and lowered until the hooks 1 or 2*, rest on sill S, and the hooks 8 are engaged with the inner edge of the window frame sill S as shown in Figs. 1 1. The parts should be properly adjusted to fit the location before the frame is placed in position outside the window. When the frame is properlyadjusted the platform is substantially suspended by hooks 1 or 2 from the sill S, the outer edge of the platform 1 being substantially supported by the brace bars 2, and the inner edge of the platform being supported by the uprights 1 connected to brace bars 2 by bolts 2. Any outward sliding movement, or tilting of the frame, is prevented by the hooks 8} and the frame cannot tilt forward or pry outward even if the operator should lean outward against the top side bar 1 of the frame.

The-strain is not upon the hooks 3, but upon the hooks 1 or 2 which are made amply strong to support all the weight which may be placed on the apparatus.

There is no prying upward upon the hook bars 3 as the hooks 1 or 2 prevent bars 3 binding or rocking on the window sill, and

the hook bars therefore merely have to hold the upper portion of the frame in position, and keep the hooks 1 or 2 from slipv By the means described, the platform or frame is held-safely and securely in position, with the main points of contact and pressure on the upper side of the outer sills.

The hook bars 3 can be readily adjusted to suit any width of window sill. The bars 4 can be adjusted to engage, the side wall, of the house below the sill and keep the lower side of the frame, or platform 1, from moving inward toward the wall which would bend the bars 1 against the sill S, and draw the hooks 1 or 2 outward.

In both of the described constructions,

the platform is safely and strongly constructed, and is supported at ends and outer side and the operator can stand and move thereon with absolute safety.

The apparatus is shown as made of metal,

but it may. be made of any suitable ma terial or combinations of 'materials; and is susceptible of variations in size and form within the scope of the invention. The simplicity and abilityand safety of the apparatus will be readily appreciated by those familiar with this class of apparatus. While the apparatus is particularly adapted for use by window washers, it is obviously adapted for use by other workmen and for other purposes.

I claim:

1. In awindow washer apparatus comprising a frame having ends, outer side, and bottom portions, bars connected to the ends of the frame extending beyond the inner edges thereof, and curved to form hooks adapted to rest upon the top of the outer sill of the window; bars adjustably and pivotally connected to the inner sides of the frame adjacent the saidhooks adapted to project through the window frame and having hooks on their innerends adapted toengage the inner-edgeof the window frame sill"; and bars adj ustably connected to the lower inner corners of the frame adapted to engage the wall beneath the sill to prevent the frame rocking upontheoute'redge of the sill and prying forward the hooks; whereby the apparatus is bodily hung on the sill, and is held in a safe and rigid position with the main point-s of contact and weight onthe outer sill.

2. Incombinationa-frame having ends, outer side and bottom' portions, bars connected to the ends of the frame and extending upwardly and inwardly from the outer edge of thebottom thereof toward the inner edge and top thereof, and projecting beyond the inner edge of the frame, and having their projecting ends curved downwardly adapted to engage the top of the outer-sill of the window for hanging the entire apparatus directly thereon; bars adjustably and pivotally connected to the inner edges of the end portions and adapted to project through the window, and hooks on the inner ends of the latter bars adapted to engage'the inner edge of the window sill whereby the entire apparatus is held in a safe and rigid position with the main points of contact and weight directly on the outer'sill; with bars adjustably connected to the lower inner corners of the frame adapted to engage the walls beneath the sill to prevent the frame rocking against the outer edge of the sill and prying forward the hooks, substantially as described.

3. A window cleaning apparatus comprising a frame having ends, outer side and bottom portions; diagonally disposed bars connected to the ends of the frame and having their inner ends extending beyond the inner side of the frame, the said ends being adapted to directly rest upon and engage the upper side of the outer window sill to support the frame thereon, with the bottom portion thereof below the level of the outer sill; and hook members attached to the,

frame and adapted to project through the window opening and engage a fixed part of the window frame to prevent the ends of ing a frame having ends, outer side, and bot-' tom portions; bars diagonally connected to the ends of the frame, and having their inner ends extended beyond the inner edge of I the frame, the extended ends thereof being curved downwardly and. adapted to directly engage the upper side of the outer window sill to suspend the entire apparatus directly therefrom, so'that the bottom portion of the 6. A window cleaning apparatus as set forth 7 in claim 2, means adjustably connected tothe lower inner corners of the frame and project ing beyond the inner edge thereof, to engagethewall below the sill and prevent the frame pryin outwardly.

7. n a window washer apparatus comprising a frame having ends, outer'side, and

bottomportions; bars diagonally connected to the ends of the frame and having their inner ends extending beyond the inner edge of the frame and curved downwardly and adapted to rest upon the top of the outer sill of the window; bars adjustab'ly and pivotally connected to the inner edges of the frame adjacent the said hooks adaptedv to project through the window frame, and hav ing hooks on their inner ends adapted to engage the inner edge of the window frame sill; and bars adjustably connected to the -lower inner corners of the frame adapted to engage the wall beneath the sill to prevent the frame rocking upon the outer edge of the sill and prying forward the hooks; whereby the apparatus is bodily hung on the sill with the bottom portion thereof below the level of the sill and the apparatus is held ina safe and rigid position with the main points of contact and weight on the outer sill.

In testimony that I claim the-foregoing as my own, I aflix my signature.

JAMEso. BREWSTER. 

